The Central Bureau of Investigation has sent a judicial request to the United States seeking information from private investigator Michael Hershman who had earlier offered his assistance in the probe in the Bofors guns pay-off case. The agency had informed a special court last December that it would be approaching him.

Last October, the agency initiated the process for sending the letter of request. The CBI had earlier sent letters and reminders to the U.S. authorities on November 8, 2023; December 21, 2023; May 13, 2024; and on August 14, 2024, but did not receive any information. The U.S. authorities sought more time to send their response.

In October 2017, Mr. Hershman — in an interview with a TV news channel — said he was willing to testify and assist the Indian agencies in the case. He claimed that V.P. Singh, then Finance Minister in the Rajiv Gandhi government, had hired him in 1986 to inquire into certain aspects involving suspected violations of currency control laws by about a dozen wealthy Indians. He then ran a private investigation firm named the Fairfax Group.

Mr. Hershman also claimed that during the inquiry he came across certain leads indicating that Bofors had allegedly paid bribes via banks for a defence deal with India. He alleged that he was offered bribes twice to stop the investigation and that he also received a threat to his life. The CBI took cognisance of his statements.

The contract for guns was signed on March 24, 1986 between the Indian government and AB Bofors following an approval from then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who was also the Defence Minister. The CBI, which registered the case in 1990 and filed chargesheets in 1999 and 2000, had alleged that ₹64 crore was paid as “commission”.

In 2004-05, the Delhi High Court quashed the charges against Rajiv Gandhi and the remaining accused. The CBI appealed against the 2005 decision in the Supreme Court in 2018, but it was turned down on the grounds of delay. The court said the CBI being a party in an identical appeal filed by advocate Ajay Agarwal against the High Court order, could argue its grounds in that appeal.